15 Delish Ways to Make Greens for Kids

Greens can be a tough sell for a lot of little ones, but there are some tricks to increasing the odds that the green foods you make them will actually be eaten. I’m excited to share my 15 favorite ways to make greens for kids!

Greens for Kids

Getting our kids to eat their greens is like the holy grail of modern motherhood. And while I 100% do not think that our kids need to be eating a steady stream of kale to be healthy, it can be fun to find ways to offer them greens that they like. I try not to make a big deal out of any one nutrient, and I recommend that you do the same, and instead simply make these delicious recipes with greens as part of your regular meals. Serve them without any fanfare, except knowing that they’re all delish, and let the kids explore and taste on their own.

Vegetable Recipes for Kids

These recipes with greens for kids are all easy to make and serve and are toddler-tested. I hope that they give you some new ideas for serving greens like spinach and kale to the kids, without too much energy or fuss on your part!

Salad for Kids

In this post, I’m focusing on greens like spinach and kale, but if you’re looking for ways to introduce and serve salad to your kids, I have a whole separate post for you! You can find my How to Serve Salad to Kids post right here.

Greens for Kids #1: Spinach Pesto

When blended with cheese, sunflower seeds, and lemon juice, spinach turns into a perfect topping for pizzas or pasta—and is also packed with nutrients that you want your kiddo to eat with glee. This is a staple in our house—we make extra each summer and freeze it to use throughout the rest of the year.

Sweet Green Spinach Muffin with Banana are a super healthy and yummy toddler or big kid breakfast or snack. Each bite is packed with nutrients from greens and fruit and the interior is so moist that even babies can enjoy these easy blender muffins!

These sweet Banana Spinach Pancakes are a Sunday favorite when you’re looking to boost nutrition in a favorite breakfast option. Or to have a little fun at the breakfast table by serving up a colorful meal!

These Homemade Pizza Rolls with Pesto are one of my favorite family recipes to keep on hand in the fridge or freezer for quick dinners, especially on nights when the kids have activities. They have a veggie right in the mix and the cheese and pizza flavor make the whole package a bit hit with the kids!

Yes, these can be a total mess with kids, but they are a great way to serve up kale in a way that’s both easy for kids to chew and delicious. Make sure not to crowd the pan—they need space and air to become crispy!

If it’s a challenge for you to serve greens that your child will actually eat, you’re going to love today’s recipe for Cheesy Baked Kale Bites. They’re packed with nutrition and are delicious when reheated so they are great to make ahead.

It can be hard for some kids to learn to enjoy smoothies, so meeting them where they are with a simple Chocolate Smoothie can help introduce the food group in a way that’s not too alarming. And this version even has hidden veggies inside!

We’ve made this in the summer when we have extra kale from the garden and a concentrated scoop is great for adding to smoothies, eggs, or even pasta.

Greens for Kids #15: Spinach Quesadillas

These are one of my favorite ways to power up a classic kid food. The simple spinach-cheese spread comes together in a food processor and is super delish—and it makes the spinach easy to chew for the little ones. (My husband loves these too, which is always high praise!)

I’d love to hear any successes (or attempts) to serve greens to your kids below in the comments, so please chime in!

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